Help.. Recommend me a lower priced fixed blade

F

Finn-lander

Joined
Apr 12, 2008
Messages
100
I have been collecting folders for a couple of years now and have been able to acquire most of my "must haves". Now I don't know what direction my collection is headed, and have started looking at fixed blades. Knives that have caught my eye are the Bark River Fox River and about anything from Bob Dozier, but the knife fund is about dry. Please help, this itch has to be scratched. Criteria:

Will be used for weekend hunting/camping/field use/general purpose
3.5" to 4.25" blade length
Wood handles preferred (could be slippery but I like the look better)
Leather sheath preferred
Moras (or similar knives) are nice, but not what I am looking for at this time
Budget around $80

Does this knife exist? All suggestions welcome. Pics are awesome. Thanks,

Finn-lander
 
Ka-bar BK2, around 80 bucks I think, well made with pride in the USA. A real work horse of a Knife. :thumbup:
 
Queen Premium Drop Point Hunter 3.5" D2 Steel Fixed Blade, Forest Maple Burl Handles
QUEEN4180SMB.jpg


Queen Premium Sabre Hunter 3.75" D2 Steel Fixed Blade, Forest Maple Burl Handles
QUEEN4185GMB.jpg


Queen Premium Skinner Hunter 3.75" D2 Steel Fixed Blade, Forest Maple Burl Handles
QUEEN4190GMB.jpg



Also offered in Fossilized Spalted Maple Burl.
Embossed leather sheath included with all of the above.
All of the above are the same pricing.
MSRP $95.00 Street around $55


Kellam WP4 Striker Fixed Blade 3 1/2" MSRP $127.95 Street around $85
Kellam WP5 Fang Fixed Blade 4 3/4" MSRP $129.95 Street around $90
Include leather sheath. Fang Image
kellamwp5.jpg
 
You could get a Short KABAR USMC or a BK-2 for that price.
for a little extra, you could get a RAT knife.
 
I would think that the Buck Vanguard may be just what you need. You can get a custom made by one of our Makers here for just a bit more, then you will have just what you want.
 
Below is my Benchmade #201 'Activator+' with a 3.63" x .140" D2 blade. The full tang is covered by screw held winewood scales. For my medium+ hands, it is barely comfortable - any thinner would be uncomfortable. Handle shape is comfortable, good thumb jimping on the spine, and the leather sheath is effective. The list is $130, but mail order prices have been less than $90. Mine was not delivered sharp, and it did take some time to remedy that with a Spyderco Sharpmaker. Oddly, as lukewarm as these comments appear, mine is a keeper - and has a steady home. The entire 'package' has merit - and is a good value.

IMG_3355.jpg


A couple others - Bucks - to consider. All are in 420HC steel - a good steel easily re-edged with a Sharpmaker. The 102BR, 2nd from left below, is also known as the 'Woodsman' - and is a smaller 'dress-up' version of the 119 Special to it's left. Good feel for a smallish handle, it has a 4" blade. The 'BR' suffix indicates a rosewood/cocobolo laminated handle and brass finger guard/pommel, a more handsome - and slightly heavier version - than the standard black phenolic handle/aluminum finger guard/pommel version. The 102 runs ~$40 and the BR version ~$53 - MSRP $68 & $88.

The next one to the right is the 005GYS 'Gen5', a 3" knife - too short for your requirements. Last is the 192 'Vanguard' - a 4.1" rosewood laminate/brass finger guard and pommel utilitarian knife I have used for everything from camping/bushcraft to yard work - everything here but the designed 'hunting' uses! With a list price of $106, it can be found many places for less than $65. It comes with a leather sheath, but I found a short run with the nylon sheath and CPM154 blade for $70 at a walk-in knifestore. Cabela's has an 'Alaskan Guide' variant in S30V for ~$95, which I also have. My 420HC is the oldest - and has the most use behind it... and has been 'touched up' once.

IMG_0952.jpg


All knives shown were made in the USA.

Stainz
 
Why did Queen get everything else right about their drop point, and then crap it up with that obnoxious etching on the blade?
 
Hi Finn-lander -

There are some fine suggestions already in this thread -

But may I suggest you come up with your own design and talk to John at JK Handmade Knives - He even has a forum here :

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=830

He makes just what you are looking for, and he prefers wood handles.

Good luck with your choice and

best regards -

mqqn
 
Wow! those are some great options so far. Keep them coming if anyone has other ideas. I really like the look of the Boker Dozier Pro Skinner, followed very closely by the Benchmade Activator and those Case knives. The Queen would have been right up there if it wasn't for the blade stamp. Anyone have any experience with the Boker Dozier? It costs one quarter the price of a real Dozier, is it also one quarter the quality? Or is it a good "bang for the buck" knife? Thanks.

Finn-lander
 
Finn-lander said:
Wow! those are some great options so far. Keep them coming if anyone has other ideas. I really like the look of the Boker Dozier Pro Skinner, followed very closely by the Benchmade Activator and those Case knives. The Queen would have been right up there if it wasn't for the blade stamp. Anyone have any experience with the Boker Dozier? It costs one quarter the price of a real Dozier, is it also one quarter the quality? Or is it a good "bang for the buck" knife? Thanks.

Finn-lander
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Well the "real" Dozier Pro Skinner is D2 and the Boker Dozier is AUS8. Quite a difference in steel. I actually like AUS8 but it is the "lowest" I like to have in a knife. It sharpens up nicely with a very sharp edge but it won't hold it long. For the price, I would get it and maybe someday I'll pony up to a real Dozier. :p
 
UpChUcK said:
Well the "real" Dozier Pro Skinner is D2 and the Boker Dozier is AUS8. Quite a difference in steel. I actually like AUS8 but it is the "lowest" I like to have in a knife. It sharpens up nicely with a very sharp edge but it won't hold it long. For the price, I would get it and maybe someday I'll pony up to a real Dozier. :p
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Honestly i also have this knife and tell you the truth this is probably one of my favorite knives, i have owned many,Many fixed blades and this knife seems to me to fit into the Personal Survival Knife-Hunting Knife-Self Defense and many other things. I paid somewhere around $40 for it and may pick up a couple for my boys first fixed blade hunting knife. I have owned many blades made with the AUS 8 and don't have 1 complaint about this steel, I do have a Bark River Northstar made out of A2 steel which is very nice but man that is hard steel to sharpen.
 
You're not going to find a better knife that fits your parameters better than the Boker Dozier. You can get it with wood handles too, and the AUS8 steel is really underrated. It will serve you for years and years. Personnally, I've been leaning more towards the older, "softer", steels myself recently for my user knives because they are so easy to sharpen on the fly. Get a nick in your S30V and see how long it takes to get it out!

Here's a link to a good vendor -

http://www.agrussell.com/boker-plus-dozier-anchorage-pro-skinner-with-cocobolo/p/BOhhhD254CO/
 
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